Rail-joint.



J. W. REYNOLDS.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED APK.2,1914,

1,105,697.. Pa ented Aug. 4, 1914,

Jizw Wjia iwfl Inventor,

Attorneys,

THE NORRIS PETERS ('0, I'HU'I'O-Ll I'HOH \VASHINGTUN. D LT JAMES W. REYNOLDS, OF CHESTER, NEBRASKA.

RAIL-JOINT.

1,1o5,ca7.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au". 4, 1914.

Application filed April 2, 1914. Serial No. 829,109.

To all TU/LOII'L it may concern:

le it known that I, JAMES \V. RnYNoLns, a citizen oil the United States, residing at Chester, in the county of Thayer and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Rail-Joint, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to rail joints, and aims to provide a rail joint cmbodying angle or splice bars of novel con struction or formation which will enhance the etliciency oi the-joint.

The present invention comprchends the provision of a rail joint, which will be of such construction, as to effectively support the rail ends against depression, due to the hammering and strains to which they are subjected when traversed by a train, the present structure being capable of withstanding the wear and tear incident to rolling stock.

Another object of the present invention,

is to pmwide in a rail joint, novel means for holding the bolts in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide the angle or splice bars with novel means for accommodating the spikes and their heads, whereby the efllciency of the device will be enhanced.

It is also within the spirit of the present invention, to provide angle or splice bars, of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction, which may be readily manufactured, and which will be convenient, practical and e'tlicacious in their use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved rail joint, the spikes being removed. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section taken through the j oint-s.

In the drawings, the rails have been designated by the numeral 1, the rail ends meeting .in the usual manner.

The joint includes a pair of opposite angle or splice bars 52 disposed at the opposite sides of the rail ends, each of theanglc or splice bars 2 including an upstanding flange or lish plate 3 and a lower outturncd flange 4. The upstanding flanges or fish plates 3 are provided with inner longitudinal ribs 5 along their upper and lower edges, which are arranged to engage the webs of the rails. The upper sides of the fish plates or flanges 3 are arranged to fit snugly under the heads or treads of the rails, while the lower flanges 4: are seatable snugly on the base flanges of the rails. The outer faces of the fish plates or flanges 3, adjacent the upper or free edges of the fish plates or flanges, are arranged to be approximately flush with the sides of the rail heads or balls when the bars 2 are applied, as clearly seen in Fig. 2.

The outer remote sides of the fish plates or flanges 3 of the splice bars, are provided with thickened or enlarged portions 6, which which extend longitudinally of the splice bars, and which extend to and are integral with the lower flanges 4-, the upper edges of the thickened or enlarged portions (3 being spaced below the upper edges of the fish plates or flanges 3. The faces of the enlarged portions (3 are preferably vertical or parallel with each other.

Each of the splice or angle bars 2 is further provided within the crotch or corner between the flanges with a longitudinal rib 7.

The fish plates or flanges 5:) are clamped against the sides of the rail ends, by means of the usual bolts 8, which are passed through suitable apertures or openings 8 provided in the fish plates or flanges 3 and the webs of the rails, the heads 9 of the bolts being square, as illustrated, and having cer tain of their sides engaging upon the rib 7 of one splice bar 2. This prevents the bolts from rotating, as will be obvious. The heads 9 of the bolts seat against the corresponding thickened portion (i of the respective splice bar, and nuts 10 are threaded upon the ends of the bolts. To lock the nuts 10 against rotation, and to enable the nuts 10 to clear the rib 7 of the corresponding splice bar,

spring or look washers 11 are interposed between the nuts 10 and the thickened portion 6 of the corresponding splice bar, whereby when the nuts 10 are tightened, the washers 11 will lock them against unscrewing, and furthermore, the washers 11 will space the nuts 10 sufliciently from the thickened portion 6 of the corresponding splice bar, to permit the nuts to be tightened without the interference of the adjacent rib 7.

The outer or free edges of the lower flanges 4: of the splice bars are provided with suitably arranged notches or slots 12 for the reception or engagement of the spikes 13, and the ribs 7 are provided with notches or slots 1% complementing the notches or slots 12, and adapted to receive the noses or projecting ends of the spike heads 15, as suggested in Fig. 2. In this manner, the bars may be spiked to the ties, in a highly eflicient manner, the notches or slots 12 and 14: accommodating the spikes and their heads in a peculiar manner, to increase the rigidity of the joint.

It is to be understood, of course, that the apertures or openings for the bolts may be arranged at various or suitable positions, according to the circumstances, and the slots or notches 12 and 14: may also be arranged at suitable positions, they being preferably ottset with respect to the bolt holes.

The present angle or splice bars may be readily applied to the rail ends, and when the splice bars are spiked to the ties, the joint will be supported and braced in an eflicacious manner, to prevent the injurious depression of the rail ends due to the hammering or jars to which the joint is subjected when in use.

The present bars may be constructed of various sizes and proportions, to accommodate various styles of rails.

Instead of employing the square headed bolts 8, as illustrated in the drawings, it

will be manifest that the common round headed bolts may be employed, if desired.

Having thus described the invention, whatis claimed as new is:

1. In combination, a pair of angle bars having lower and upstanding flanges, and having longitudinal ribs Within the crotches between the said flanges, bolts engaged through the said upstanding flanges, nuts threaded upon the bolts, and a lock washer disposed on each bolt between the corresponding nut and upright flange, the bolt heads and washers being disposed above the said ribs and seating against the said upright flanges, each bolt head engaging the corresponding rib to prevent the rotation of the bolt, and each washer spacing the corresponding nut from the respective rib to clear the same. i

2. In combination, a pair of angle bars including lower and upstanding flanges, and having longitudinal ribs within the crotches between the said flanges, bolts engaged through the said upstanding flanges, nuts threaded upon the bolts, a lock washer disposed on each bolt between the respective nut and upstanding flange, the bolt heads and washers being disposed above the ribs and seating against the said upright flanges, each bolt head engaging the respective rib to prevent the rotation of the bolt, each washer sp acing the corresponding nut from the respective rib, the said lower flanges and ribs having complementing notches, and spikes engaging the notches of the said lower flanges and having the projecting ends of the heads engaging the notches of the said ribs.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES IV. REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

FRED It. LEONARD, I/VILLIAM J. LEONARD.

Goblet o1? thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, ID. *9. 

